Abidal returns from liver surgery and CL formation

Hey hey! Foxsoccer reports that Abidal is back...

Based on this info: Pep will probably go for the following formation:

F:    Messi, Villa, Pedro
M:   Iniesta, Xavi,  Busquets
D:    Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Reserves: Abidal, Afellay, Keita, and a Team B GK.

----------------

The Big Mouth's team is missing his key defensive components (Pepe and Ramos) and will have to rely on a more attack-minded formation as follows:

F:      Hinguin
W:    Di Maria & C. Ronaldo
M:     Alonso & Ozil/Kaka
DM:  Diarra
D:     Marcelo, Carhalvo, Albiola, Arbeloa

Reserves:  Benzema, Adebayor

This formation should be countered by our previous Clasico formation with Busquests and Keita, which this armchair manager would like to look like either 4-4-2 (Iniesta as a midfielder) or 4-3-3 (with Iniesta out on left to toy with the thin Madrid defense)

F:    Iniesta, Messi, Villa/Pedro/Afellay
M:   Xavi, Keita, Busquets
D:    Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

With Afellay and Pedro coming with 15-30 minutes left and Abidal in the 90th minute.

Visca Barcelona and enjoy the game!!!

See this link --> Barcelona's Abidal returns from liver surgery

Nothing but silence at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Had a great day? Me too.

Long story short, Real Madrid with its deeper bench played too defensively and were punished for it.  The tactics were wrong and the best team one.  Barcelona had the momentum with several forays at Iker’s goal long before Pepe’s red card.  Also, unlike in the previous games, C.R., Ramos, Ozil, and Di Maria failed to deliver.

Remember, Madrid were the favorites coming into the game…

As for the goals, the first was a world class team effort that saw a pin-point pass from Afellay find its intended mark at Messi's foot, while the second sublime goal was piece of pure individual genius spanning 30 meters and 5 Madrid defenders.

Visca Barcelona!

Messi's brace in Madrid

The latest video from the "All about FC Barcelona" blog highlights everything (see link below).

The first goal came from a wonderful Afellay assist that was orchestrated by Xavi. The second goal was pure Messi magic from the middle of the pitch through 5 Madrid defenders.

For more: See this link --> Messi Goals from Barca Victory at Bernebeu | All About FC Barcelona

Madrid players who are 1 yellow card away from suspension

Here's the list of players that are 1 card away from being suspended

1.  Cristiano Ronaldo
2.  Sergio Ramos
3.  Raul Albiol
4.  Angel Di Maria

Also, Carvalho is suspended and Khidiera is injured.  Barcelona can and must win this game to maintain momentum.

Visca Barcelona!

CL Line-up

Hello all,

Unless Pep decides to pull a Mourinho-style fast one about Iniesta's availability, the line-up will probably look like this:

F:  Pedro, Villa, and Messi
M: Afellay, Xavi, Busquets
D:  Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Reserves:  Keita, Milito, Fontas, Thiago, and Afellay (if Iniesta actually plays).

Pep could also play a 4-4-2 formation to counter a defense-orientated midfield (see below) with this line-up:

F:   Villa and Pedro
M:  Afellay, Messi, Xavi, Busquets
D:   Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Big Mouth's line-up should look be what I dub (unless someone else has already beaten me to it) the "Christmas tree" formation: 4-2-1-2-1.  Without Carvalho and Khideira, the line-up is:

F:                         Adebayor
W:           Di Maria                Ozil
AM:                       Alonso
DM:         Pepe                     Diarra
D:        Marcelo Albiol  Ramos Arbeloa



It will be a difficult game, visca Barcelona!

An open letter to Messrs. Rosell, Guardiola, & Zubizaretta

Dear gentlemen, 

It is now apparent from our current attrition rates that FCB should focus on reinforcing our defensive line and supplementing our low-center-of-gravity forwards with a more physical presence.  We also need to temporary halt our obsessive pursuit of Cesc. 

As such, I would like to make the following suggestions if FCB is to continue to play on 5 fronts (La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, and both international qualifications and friendlies): 

First, our defense is our Achilles’ heel;  the irreplaceable Puyol is 33 years old and without a viable substitute.  We need to find an heir-apparent and also find a stop-gap with Champions League and/or EPL experience.  This defender should be a pure defender and prone to supporting the attack like our other defenders.  In a previous post, I had praised Christian Cheivo as a versatile defender who can play as LB, CB, and midfield.  At 33, he might be open to a free-transfer from Inter.  Furthermore, we should release Milito and Maxwell or play them as experience members of Team B in the Copa del Rey, as DFM and LB respectively, to guide the younger players.  

Second, our FCB is missing in the big physical forward department;  Larsson and Henry both brought leadership and were instrumental in pushing their way through tall and physical EPL/Champions League level defenders (i.e., a tactic currently being employed by FCB’s ex-interpreter at Real Madrid).  Both Larsson and Henry knew that their careers were waning but knew that they can still add value to the team as “team players” in different roles.  No one can ever forget how Larsson created two beautiful passes to his colleagues to help FCB win the Champions League title in 2006.  Ibrahimovic did not deliver because, like Cristiano Ronaldo, is immature, egoistic and not a team player.  Maybe he can return when he matures and is humbled.  Speaking of mature, what about bringing back Eto’o from exile?  Furthermore, adding a 5th forward will bring more depth to the overworked Messi, Villa, Pedro line on the above mentioned 5 fronts.  Lastly,  FCB does not equal Bojan!  FCB needs to either loan Bojan out to another team to gain experience and ultimately return or release him for his benefit – if we do, we will need to find a suitable replacement from Barcelona B.  We can’t throw money on expensive forwards who don't have a chance to play alongside a healthy Messi, Villa, & Pedro.

Third, the infatuation with Cesc must cease or at least be postponed a few years until it becomes economically feasible to approach Arsenal for their captain’s services or even on a free transfer when Xavi retires in a few years;  this way we can give Thiago a chance to mature with more play time as well as spend less money on hidden gems like Afellay and Ozil.  In addition, any large payments made to Arsenal would signal FCB’s condonation of Arsenal’s free-acquisition of Cesc when he was still a minor and thus welcoming of further Arsenal-like tactics by other clubs.            

In summary, FCB needs to be better prepared for a Barcelona-obsessed Mourinho.  He basically brought the German midfield (the 2nd best in the world after Spain) and incorporated an EPL level defense, knowing full well that the only way to defend against FCB is to play hard and physical (which he have seen when Mourinho was with Chelsea, Inter, and now Madrd).  Rumor is he now wants John Terry...

Thank you and Visca Barcelona!

Osasuna/CL

Hey folks,

In preparation for the CL game, both Xavi and Ineista need to be rested, so here is my formation:

F:   Afellay, Villa, Jefren
M:  Thiago, Dos Santos, Keita
D:  Maxwell, Pique, Fontas, Alves

Reserves: Messi, Pedro, Milito, Puyol, Mascherano

You know that the Big Mouth will rest his players for the CL.

Good luck!